Cut and paste is a
shortcut for bad
typing skills and/or
a lack of time, and
is driven by the
demand for
electronic notes.
The demand for
electronic notes -
the "root cause" of
the problem - is
driven by the desire
for "computable
data" regarding
medical encounters.
One has to question
whether the desire
for the level of
detail desired by
the "computable
data" crowd is
feasible. Literally
every patient
encounter is
different, even if
the problems and the
presentation are the
same. Attempting to
generate computable
data in this
situation seems
almost pointless
given the current
state of input
technology (writing,
typing, dictating
and clicking), as
each method of input
has one or more
glaring shortfalls
which prevent its
use as an
efficient/effective
tool for reaching
the desired goal.
Perhaps when Dr.
McCoy's tricorder
thingy is able to
communicate directly
with the EMR will we
be able to achieve
the bureaucrats'
dream; until then,
the battle between
efficiency and
comprehensiveness -
and the resulting
various 'cheats' in
the process - will
continue..

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